Official: Formula 1 returns in Madrid

Formula 1 owner, Liberty Media, have officially confirmed that the sport will return to the Spanish capital, Madrid, in 2026, precisely 45 years after its last race.

Madrid last hosted the sport in 1981 when the “Harama” circuit hosted the Spanish Grand Prix. The victory was claimed by Gilles Villeneuve with Ferrari, and the race was the last of a total of 11 held near Madrid.

The upcoming event, which will once again be the Spanish Grand Prix rather than the previously speculated Madrid Grand Prix, will take place on a street circuit within the city itself. The track will be constructed around the IFEMA exhibition center, where the first official Formula 1 exhibition took place last year.

The track length will be 5.47 kilometers, featuring a total of 20 turns. The predicted average lap speed is 218 km/h, and the contract will be for 10 years. There’s a high likelihood that the event in Madrid may be held at night, although this has not been confirmed yet.

Let’s go racing in Madrid!

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Say hello to the brand-new circuit built around the @IFEMA Exhibition Centre ✨#F1 pic.twitter.com/klysY8HAiT

— Formula 1 (@F1) January 23, 2024

These news cast significant doubt on the future of the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona, which has been a constant on the Formula 1 calendar since 1991. While the current host of the Spanish Grand Prix has a contract until 2026, it may not be fulfilled due to the new race in Madrid.